Waterfall for aquariums



J, WINKELMAN WATERFALL FOR AQUARIUMS Oc t. 9, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Aug. 10, 1961 f a" ff/,0 I" 1' a" 0" INVENTOR wnktlman,

ATTORNEY Oct. 9, 1962 J. WINKELMAN WATERFALL FOR AQUARIUMS 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10. 1961 INVENTOR Jzzzes Winkalmdn, BY f a WATTORNEY tgt Patented Oct. 9, 1962 3,057,094 WATERFALL FUR AQUARIUMSJames Winkelman, 7696 NW. 15th Ave, Miami, Fla. Filed Aug. 10, 1961,Ser. No. 130,580 7 Claims. (Cl. 4fi106.51)

The present invention relates to a waterfall for aquariums and itconsists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of partsherein described and claimed.

Generally there is provided a device which is operable by means of airreceived from a source such as an aerator tube from a source outside anaquarium. The device itself is adapted to be mounted in wholly immersedcondition in an aquarium and may present an external appearance of arock or the like. The device is adapted to lift a column of wateradmixed with sand or the like to an upper chamber from which air isallowed to escape. A channel, which is exposed to view, is provided forthe downflow of the mixture of water and sand, the sand or otherparticles permitting such downflow of water to be visible to observerswithout the aquarium thus giving the impression of a constantly flowingwaterfall under water.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a device of thecharacter set forth which is simple in construction, inexpensive tomanufacture and yet effective and efficient in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for makingvisible a stream of fluid while the latter is wholly immersed in afluid.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of thecharacter set forth, novel means for maintaining a constant level offluid in an air cap, such air cap and said means both forming parts ofthe invention.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a novelmixing chamber forming a part of the invention.

Still another object of the invention is the provision, in a device ofthe character set forth, of novel means for the prevention of jamming ofsolids in certain passageways forming a part of the invention.

A still further object of the invention is to provide novel means forcirculating in a given path solid particles in a fluid circuit.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from areading of the following specification taken in conjunction with thedrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view illustrating an embodiment of theinvention showing the same mounted in an aquarium,

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the device shown in FIGURE1,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyalong line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein anaquarium generally designated at and provided with a bottom Wall 11 andside walls 12.

The apparatus embodying the present invention comprises a downwardly andrearwardly sloping base 13 provided with downwardly sloping side walls14 from the lower edges of which extend a horizontal flange 15.

A relatively small housing 16 provides an air entrance chamber 17. Afitting 18 is provided in one of the walls 12 of the aquarium 10 and isconnected on its outer side with a source of air (not shown) and uponits inner side with a tube 19 which, in turn, extends into the housing16.

Forwardly of the housing 16 and in spaced relation thereto there ismounted upon the base 13 a relatively large housing 20 preferably of agenerally frusto-conical shape which provides a vortex mixing chamber 21therein.

The bottom of the housing 20 is provided with an upwardly projectingcentrally located conical member 22.

A catch basin 23 is mounted atop the forward portion of the base 13 andis provided in the lower portion thereof with a collecting chamber 24,the latter being connected with the upper portion through an opening oropenings 25.

A channel 26 interconnects the catch basin 23 with the bottom wall 27 ofan air cap 28. The bottom wall 27 is provided with an upwardly extendingtubular portion 29 having at its upper end an upwardly and forwardlyextending deflecting cap 30 and provided in its forward side adjacentthe upper end thereof with an opening 31. A tube 32 interconnects theupper end of the housing 20 with the member 29. The cap 30 may, ofcourse, extend in any direction.

An air escape tube 33 is vertically aflixed to the rear portion of theinner wall of the cap 28 and is open, at its upper end, as indicated at34 and is provided with a closed bottom, as indicated at 35. Registeringopenings 36 and 37 are provided in the lower end portions of the tube 33and the cap 28, as indicated in FIGURE 3.

A conduit housing 38 interconnects the catch basin 23 with the housingand is provided with an inverted V- shaped top 39, as indicated inFIGURE 4, thus providing a relatively wide lower channel 40 and arelatively narrow upper channel 41 therein.

The apparatus is preferably concealed with the exception of the forwardportion of the channel 26 by a decorative covering such as is indicatedin dotted lines at 42. This may take the form of a rock or the like toconceal from view the actual working portions of the device so that allthat is presented to view of an observer of the aquarium 10 and itscontents is the ornamental cover 42 and the open portion of the channelmember 26.

In operation, sand or other like particles which are visible in waterand, of course, of greater specific gravity than water, are introducedinto the apparatus through, for example, the opening 25. A flow of airfrom an aerator or the like will then pass through the fitting 18 andtube 19 into the housing 16. It will then pass through a substantiallyconical passageway 44 whose narrower portion connects with the housing16 and whose larger end is connected with the lower end portion of thehousing 20. During this passage the air will force some water into themixing chamber 21. The air will then pass upwardly into the channel ortube 32. Additional water and sand or other particles will be drawn intothe mixing chamber 21 by such upward passage of the air as aforesaid andthe conical member 22 will create a vortex in the chamber 21 thusadmixing the sand with the upwardly flowing water and air mixture. Suchmixture of air and water will then pass into the member 29 and bedeflected forwardly through the opening 31 by means of the deflector cap30. The mixture of sand and water will then pass by gravity through anopening 45 in the forward portion of the bottom wall 27 of the air cap28 and thence pass downwardly in the channel member 26 to the catchbasin 23 and thence pass through the opening 25, passing rearwardlytherein by gravity to again repeat the cycle.

It will be apparent that the stream of water admixed with sand passingdownwardly in the channel member 26 will be visible to the observer dueto the particles of sand or the like contained therein. It will also beseen that should particles collect in the lower channel 40, that theflow of Water through the upper channel 41 will act to help clear awayany clogging of particles in the lower channel 40. The conical or wedgeshaped passage 44 has its smaller end toward the source of air. Thus, inthe event of an air stoppage causing water to run into the air line,sand or other particles with irregular shapes will tend to jam at thisnarrow portion instead of being carried with the water into the airline. Likewise, it will be apparent that should sand or the like collectin the member 44, it will be forcibly moved away therefrom by thepassage of air entering the smaller end of the conical member 44. Itwill be seen that the positioning of the openings 36 and 37 willdetermine the water level within the cap 28.

It Will be understood that Wherever the term sand has been used hereinthat it includes any particles of matter having a specific gravitygreater than the liquid in which the device is immersed and that wherethe term water is used, it includes any fluid which will cooperate withthe particles in the manner set forth. Likewise, where the term air isused, it will, of course, include any other gases which will cooperatewith the particles and fluid as set forth herein.

It will also be apparent that the device may be used for commercialdisplay purposes.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein,it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minormodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a base, meansdefining a mixing chamber mounted on said base, a catch basin mounted onsaid base forwardly of said mixing chamber, a conduit interconnectingsaid basin and said mixing chamber, a closed air cap positioned abovesaid mixing chamber and said basin, a channel member extending upwardlyfrom said basin to the underside of said air cap, a tube interconnectingsaid mixing chamber and the underside of said air cap, said channel andsaid tube supporting said air cap, means providing a constant supply ofair to said mixing chamber, and a supply of visible particles in saidcatch basin, whereby when said apparatus is immersed in a fluid, acircuit of particle containing fluid will flow successively through saidmixing chamber, said tube, said air cap, said channel member, said catchbasin and again to said mixing chamber.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein air escape means isprovided in the rear portion of said air cap.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein means is provided formaintaining a constant liquid level in said air cap.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said conduitinterconnecting said mixing chamber and said catch basin is providedwith a relatively wide lower channel and a relatively narrowinterconnected upper channel whereby to maintain said conduit free fromaccumulating particles.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the bottom of said air capis provided with an upwardly projecting cylindrical member having anupwardly and forwardly extending top wall and an opening in the forwardportion thereof immediately below said wall, said wall acting as adeflector plate to direct liquid through said opening.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for providing asupply of air to said mixing chamber includes a housing, an air supplytube connected to said housing, and a conduit interconnecting thehousing with said mixing chamber.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said lastmentioned conduitis conical in shape with its larger end connected to said mixingchamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,504,883 Fazio Aug. 12, 1924 2,674,574 Pettas Apr. 6, 1954 2,725,356Lombardi Nov. 29, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 184,739 Switzerland Aug. 17, 1936

